More than 1,000 acres were torched and at least 3,500 homes destroyed when a fire rampaged through the Oakland hills in the early 1990s. Among the homes lost was a traditional Tudor in Rockridge owned by a local couple. When the family began construction on a new home, they reached out to architect William Dutcher to create an elegant space that would not only be welcoming and attractive but also unlike what stood there previously.

"They were very open-minded, and that made it fun for me," Dutcher said of rebuilding 170 Roble Road, a three-bedroom, three-bathroom home featuring walls of glass, clean geometric lines and a copper roof with redwood eaves.

As an homage to the original structure, sandblasted concrete blocks inside the home line up on the same path as the foundation of the original house.

"It was an idea to have a memory of the house that was there but not to repeat that design," Dutcher said.

Other than that, the design of the house is a complete departure from the original Tudor. Wide phalange steel columns support the home, while walls of glass decorate the entryway and Honduran mahogany lines the hardwood floors and forms the doors and cabinetry.

A barrel-vaulted ceiling lingers above the living room, which is highlighted by a fireplace with a green limestone surround.

Just beyond the dining room is an exterior waterfall which is placed where the original home's fireplace once stood. One could read a sense of symbolism into the placement, Dutcher said.

"It's like the water is putting out the fire," he said.

Aside from representing a piece of the past, the waterfall plays a practical role for the home.

"When it's on, it masks the noise from the freeway," Dutcher said.

With its fountains, concrete block walls and patio, the backyard is one of Dutcher's favorite parts of the home, he said. While the residents decided what flowers and shrubs to plant, he laid out all the hardscaping - the fences, walkways and paved areas.

Mature oak trees and evergreens surround the $2.1 million home on its half-acre lot.

"When you're at the home, you don't feel like you're in an urban environment," said Helene Barkin, who is listing the home for The Grubb Co.

Inside, Dutcher points to the spiral mahogany staircase off the entryway that's illuminated by a skylight, which is a favorite interior design feature. It was inspired by the staircase of a Piedmont home that came to Dutcher's attention when the owner showed him a picture of it.

"They really wanted a grand staircase in their house. It was important to me to give them something they were interested in," he said.

Polished steps play off the cantilever and patina steel frame, while the sculpted handrail adds a dimension of grace to the design.

With a private den, large office and dressing area, the master suite dominates most of the top floor. The upper level also includes two bedrooms and a bathroom.